Updated 8/17/23. 3 egg whites, 6 almonds, 4 cashews, 2 dates, and no B.S. Simple words like these appear on the front of every wrapper of the RXBAR, a whole-food nutrition bar based on the Paleo eating plan that seems to be popular with those who do the CrossFit exercise program. During a conversation, I was given a sample RX Bar to see what I thought about it. Since I had not heard of it before, I thought it would be good to review it. Is RXBar healthy? Is it the best nutrition bar to take with you on trips?? Keep reading and let's find out. Also, see the Protein Bar review.
What Does RX In The Name Mean?
I have to say the name of this whole food nutrition bar is pretty snazzy. In the medical world, “RX” means prescription. So, by adding RX to the name, they are subtly saying that this is the prescription (remedy) for your nutrition problems.
To be fair, the company website (RXBar.com) does give a disclaimer that it ” doesn't claim to be a prescription for anything.” That statement is likely to keep the FDA and FTC from raining down on it like you know what. Disclaimers notwithstanding, not since “Shakeology” has I seen such a clever-sounding name.
The Shakeology review has more about that supplement.
RXBar Flavors
There are several flavors of RXBars. Here's what was available when this review was created.
| Chocolate Sea Salt | Peanut Butter Chocolate | Chocolate Chip |
| Blueberry | Peanut Butter | Chocolate Coconut |
| Maple Sea Salt | Mixed Berry | Mint Chocolate |
RXBar Nutrition
There are many different flavors of RX Bar. To make it easy to compare them, I've broken the Nutrition Facts of each bar into the following tables. To make it even easier, below these tables, I'll also summarize some things that I thought were worth mentioning.
Blueberry, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Sea Salt
| Blueberry (1 bar /52g) | Chocolate Chip (1 bar /52g) | Chocolate Sea Salt (1bar/52g) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 210 | 210 | 210 |
| Total Fat | 60 | 9g (12%DV) | 9g (13%DV) |
| Saturated Fat | 1g (4%DV) | 2g (10%DV) | 2g (10%DV) |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0 | 0 |
| Cholesterol | 0g | 0 | 0 |
| Sodium | 115mg (5%DV) | 190mg (8%DV) | 270mg (11%DV) |
| Potassium | 330 (9%DV) | 473mg (10%DV) | 330mg (10%DV) |
| Total Carbohydrate | 26g (9%DV) | 22g (8%DV) | 24g (8%DV) |
| Dietary Fiber | 6g (23%DV) | 5g (18%DV) | 6g (24%DV) |
| Total Sugars | 17g | 13g | 15g |
| Protein | 12g | 12g | 12g |
Coffee Chocolate, Maple Sea Salt, Mint Chocolate
| Coffee Chocolate (1ba/ 52 g) | Maple Sea Salt (1bart/52g) | Mint Chocolate (1bar/52g) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 210 | 220 | 210 |
| Total Fat | 9g (15%DV) | 10g (15%DV) | 9g (14%DV) |
| Saturated Fat | 2.5 (11%DV) | 1.5g (6%DV) | 2g (10%DV) |
| Trans Fat | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cholesterol | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sodium | 160 mg (7%DV) | 260 mg (11%DV) | 200mg (9%DV) |
| Potassium | 270mg (10%DV) | 280mg (8%DV) | 340mg (10%DV) |
| Total Carbohydrate | 23g (8%DV) | 22g (7%DV) | 24g (8%DV) |
| Dietary Fiber | 6g (23%DV) | 5g (21%DV) | 6g (24%DV) |
| Total Sugars | 13g | 14g | 14g |
| Protein | 12g | 12g | 12g |
Mixed Berry, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Peanut Butter
| Mixed Berry (1bar/52g) | Peanut Butter Chocolate (1bar/52g) | Peanut Butter (1bar/52g) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 210 | 210 | 210 |
| Total Fat | 7g (9%DV) | 10g (13%DV) | 8g (12%DV) |
| Saturated Fat | 1g (5%DV) | 2.5g (13%DV) | 1.5g (7%DV) |
| Trans Fat | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cholesterol | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sodium | 130 mg (6%DV) | 260mg (11%DV) | 310mg (13%DV) |
| Potassium | 470mg (10%DV) | 461 mg (10%DV) | 350 mg (10%DV) |
| Total Carbohydrate | 24g (9%DV) | 21g (8%DV) | 24g (8%DV) |
| Dietary Fiber | 5g (18%DV) | 5g (18%DV) | 6g (26%DV) |
| Total Sugars | 14g | 13g | 15g |
| Protein | 12g | 12g | 12g |
Summary Of Nutrition Facts
Looking over the Nutrition Facts tables for the different flavors, here are some things worth pointing out:
- Most flavors are 210 calories. Maple Sea Salt is the highest with 220 calories.
- All of the bars contain zero trans fats and zero cholesterol.
- All the flavors have the same protein content (12g).
- Most RXBars are “high in fiber,” providing more than 20g.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate has the most saturated fat (2.5g / 13% Daily Value).
- Chocolate Salt, Maple Sea Salt, Peanut Butter, and Peanut Butter Chocolate have the most sodium.
- Blueberry and Mixed Berry flavors have the least sodium.
- Mixed Berry has the most potassium (470mg / 10% DV).
In the bullet points, “DV” is Daily Value.
Labeling Problem?
I'm not sure but I may have found an issue with the labels. The Coffee Chocolate flavor, label states it has 270 mg of potassium, stating that this is 10% of the Daily Value for this mineral. The Mixed Berry Flavor label indicates 470mg of potassium, and this also is said to be 10% of the Daily Value.
How can two very different amounts of potassium equal the same percentage of daily value? The bars weigh the same (52g each). Am I missing something? The potassium RDA is 4700 mg per day, so the Mixed Berry Flavor (470 mg potassium) is indeed the correctly labled bar. The potassium daily value for the Coffee Chocolate flavor is incorrectly listed.
Update. I contacted RXBar, and they informed me that the differences in potassium were not significant enough to prompt changes in the daily value of the percent. That is why both the Coffee Chocolate flavor and Mixed Berry flavor indicate 10% DV, even though they have different amounts of potassium. I'm not sure I agree with this. 470 mg is 200 mg more than 270 mg but it is what it is.
RXBar Kids Flavors
There are also kids' flavors of RXBars too. When I checked, the following children's versions were available:
- Chocolate Chip
- Berry Blast
- Apple Cinnamon Raisin
There are also a variety of packs of these.
Here is the Nutrition Facts breakdown of the kid's versions:
| Chocolate Chip (1 bar 33g) | Berry Blast (1 bar 33g | Apple Cinnamon Raisin (1 bar 33g) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 140 | 130 | 130 |
| Total Fat | 6g (8%DV) | 4.5g (6%DV) | 5g (6%DV) |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5 (8%DV) | 0.5g (3%DV) | 0.5g (3%DV) |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Sodium | 70mg (3%DV) | 80mg (3%DV) | 80mg (3%DV) |
| Potassium | 296mg (6%DV) | 301mg (6%DV) | 287mg (6%DV) |
| Total Carbohydrate | 14g (5%DV) | 15g (5%DV) | 16g (6%DV) |
| Dietary Fiber | 3g (11%DV) | 3g (11%DV) | 3g (11%DV) |
| Total Sugars | 8g | 9g | 9g |
| Added Sugars | 0g added sugars | 0g added sugars | 0g added sugars |
| Protein | 7g | 7g | 7g |
| Calcium | 37 mg (2%DV) | 38mg (2%DV) | 40mg (4%DV) |
| Iron | 1mg (6%DV) | 1mg (6%DV) | 1mg (6%DV) |
| Vitamin D | 0 mcg | 0mcg | 0mcg |
As can be seen, the size of the kids RX Bars are smaller (33g) and have fewer calories (130 calories) than the adult versions.
Do RXBars Have Any Caffeine?
Only the Coffee Chocolate flavor has caffeine and that is only 5 mg, a very small amount. The other flavors do not have caffeine. There is no caffeine in the kid's versions of RXBars.
Is The RX Bar Paleo?
Yes. The RX Bar works if you are into the Paleo eating pattern.
What Flavors Are Kosher?
At the time this review was created, the following flavors were listed on the product website as being Kosher certified:
- Apple cinnamon
- Blueberry
- Chocolate Sea Salt
- Coconut Chocolate
- Coffee Chocolate
- Pumpkin Spice
The Kosher certification was provided by The Orthodox Union.
What Are The Natural Flavors?
After this review was posted, I saw some people online asking questions such as “What are the natural flavors in RXBars?” For example, in Chocolate Sea Salt flavor, they list “natural chocolate flavor.” The company website does say the bars do not contain any artificial ingredients, yet in the US, the word “natural” is not regulated.
For some nutrition conspiracy-enthusiasts, the word “natural” can sometimes set off alarms. I understand this and I admit that because of the unregulated nature of this word, I often don't pay attention to claims like natural or “all natural.”
To clarify this issue, I called RX Bar and asked for an email stating that I could share it with readers to help them better understand the natural flavors. They promptly emailed me back this statement:
“Natural flavors are purified extracts from natural sources, such as a spice, fruit, or vegetables. In order to be used in food, natural flavors must meet strict FDA guidelines and safety criteria. The natural flavors used in RXBARs come from the real food ingredients such as fruit and chocolate and do not include propylene glycol, synthetic, artificial or GMO derived ingredients.”
To me, this sounds like the natural flavors are indeed natural and are based on foods. At this time, I don't see any issues here.
Are They Good Cold?
Can you eat RXBars cold? Yes, but the texture will likely be too hard to chew for most people. When I put the Chocolate Sea Salt flavor in the freezer, it was frozen solid. It was still too hard to bite into when I transferred it to the refrigerator overnight.
For those who may be on long treks in hot weather, keeping them cold may be an option, but for the rest of us, I would not recommend it if you plan on eating them soon.
What About Allergies?
If you have allergies to certain foods, you should be aware that RX Bars are made in a facility that also processes soy, milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. The product website also tells people that because the bars contain eggs, almonds, peanuts, cashews, and coconut, those who are sensitive to these foods should speak with their doctor first.
Bottom line: The RXBar is probably not for people who are allergic to soy, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, almonds, cashews or coconut.
Who Makes The RXBAR?
The name of the company is the “Chicago Bar Company LLC.” According to
this Bloomberg article, the company was founded in 2012. The founders of the company are Peter Rahal and Jared Smith.
The Chicago Bar Company's address is 1552 West Carroll Avenue. Suite 202. Chicago, IL 60607.
RXBar's address is 225 W Ohio Ste 500, Chicago, IL 60654.
Either address should work if reaching out to the company.
In 2017, Kellogg purchased the RX Bar, which is now owned by Kellogg.
Contact RXBar
RXBar can be reached by calling 312-624-8200. Contacting the company with this number is pretty easy. Each time I called, someone picked up very quickly. Whether communicating via phone or email, I was impressed by the level of attention their customer service gave to my questions.
How Does RXBar Taste?
While I did not taste all the RX Bar flavors, Chocolate Sea Salt tasted pretty good. It was dense and chewy, and I could taste the chocolate and the salt.
One thing I was not crazy about, though, was the bar getting stuck in my teeth. This may be something to consider for those with braces or other dental work.
Whether or not the same issue would occur with the other varieties or RXBar, I cannot say.
Buying RXBars?
Where can you purchase RXBars? There is a handy store locator option on the product website. By entering several random zip codes, I concluded that RXBars are found at many local food outlets, including but not limited to:
| Acme | Giant Supermarkets | Safeway Supermarkets |
| ShopRite Supermarkets | Trader Joe's | Wegmans |
The bars can be found at several fitness centers as well.
RXBar Vs. JERF Bar
The Jerf Bar is a whole-food nutrition bar I previously reviewed. What's better, the RXBar or JERF Bar? Here is a side-by-side breakdown of each bar to help you compare.
See the JERF Bar review for more info on that product. I liked the JERF bar when I tasted it however,it no longer appears to be manufactured.
| RX Bar (1 bar / 52 g). Chocolate Sea Salt | JERF Bar (1 bar / 50 g) Chocolate Coconut | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 210 | 230 |
| Calories From Fat | 80 | 100 |
| Total Fat | 9g (13% DV) | 11g (17% DV) |
| Sat Fat | 2g (10% DV) | 3g (15% DV) |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0g | 0g |
| Sodium | 270 mg (11% DV) | 35 mg (1% DV) |
| Potassium | 330 mg (10% DV) | not listed |
| Total Carbs | 24g (8% DV) | 20g (7% DV) |
| Dietary Fiber | 6g (24% DV) | 13g (52% DV) |
| Sugar | 15g | 5g |
| Protein | 12g | 13 |
| Vitamin A | Vitamin A 0% DV | Vitamin A 0% DV |
| Vitamin C | Vitamin C 0% DV | Vitamin C 0% DV |
| Calcium | 4%DV | 6% DV |
| Iron | 10%DV | 8% DV |
| Riboflavin | 25% DV | not listed |
| Magnesium | 10% DV | not listed |
| Phosphorous | 10%DV | Not listed |
| Copper | 15% DV | Not listed |
In the table above, “% DV” means percent daily value. The Daily Value is the amount (expressed as a percentage) that each bar contributes to our daily allotment for a given nutrient. For example, the 9 grams of total fat in the RXBar provides 13% of the recommended amount of fat we eat daily.
Scanning the table above, a few things jump out:
Sodium
While the RXBar is not “high” in sodium, the Chocolate Sea Salt flavor does have 7x the amount that the JERF Bar has. Each RXBar (Chocolate
Sea Salt) provides 270 mg of sodium, while the JERF Bar only provides 35 mg. Remember, from above, Chocolate Sea Salt has the most sodium of any RXBar version. Other versions have less sodium.
For the person who works out a lot, this may not matter much. For the person who is supposed to be on a low salt diet or trying to lower their blood pressure, this may be something to consider.
Potassium
The RX Bar (Chocolate Sea Salt flavor) provides 330 mg of potassium, which is 10% of what we should be getting per day. The JERF Bar does not list how much potassium it has.
I mentioned this in my JERF Bar review also. I know it has some potassium but exactly how much I cannot say at this time. I'm sure that eventually, potassium will be listed.
Potassium is very important for helping blood pressure.
RX Bar vs. TruVani The Only Bar
The Only Bar is produced by Vani Hari, better known on social media as The Food Babe. The Only Bar is composed of only organic ingredients and, like RX Bar, comes in different flavors. See The Only Bar review for more information.
The Vitamins and Minerals
The label for the RXBar lists percentages for vitamins A, C, Calcium, iron, riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. The JERF Bar only lists percentages for vitamins A, C, calcium, and iron. As with potassium above, I know they are present in the JERF Bar. Not listing them does not mean they are not there. As for how much, I cannot say at this time.
Nutrition Claims
Both bars make health claims. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the health claims for RX Bar and JERF Bar
| RXBar Health Claims | JERF Bar Health Claims |
|---|---|
| No added sugar | No GMO |
| Dairy Free | Gluten Free |
| No soy | Dairy Free |
| No gluten | Organic |
| No artificial flavors | No dyes / coloring's |
| No preservatives | Kosher |
| No fillers | Vegan |
See the protein bar review for how both compare to many other protein bars.
RXBar: Final Verdict?
Overall, I enjoyed the RXBar. The company has put a lot of thought and effort into the product, reflected in the chosen ingredients. At the end of the day, it comes down to taste and what health claims are important to you. Is the RXBar the best if you work out? I'm not prepared to say that (we'd need clinical studies) but if you are looking for a snack between meals or workouts, give it a try. What's your favorite workout energy bar?
Here it is on Amazon. See what others are saying